School closures due to flu epidemic - Southampton
Vaccination is the best defence against the spread of flu. If you’re eligible for a flu jab, drop in to one of our sites to get yours. No appointment necessary!
NHS Health Checks - Have you had yours?
We invite patients to attend their free NHS Health Check on a monthly basis. The NHS Health Check looks at your general health and can help with early identification of long term conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol or prostate cancer.
If you receive an invitation from us, we strongly recommend that you contact us to book your check. Currently, NHS Health checks are an invite-only appointment. For more invitation , please click here.
Portsdown Group Practice is now an Armed Forces Veteran friendly accredited GP practice
Gluten Free Prescribing
Due to new NHS England guidelines. The types of gluten free items we can prescribed has changed. Please click here for more information.
Learning Disability Friendly Award
Portsdown Group Practice has become an accredited Learning Disability (LD) Friendly Practice, one of only a handful of GP Practices in the City to gain this accolade.
This accreditation recognises Portsdown Group Practices’ awareness of the needs of people with a learning disability, and its ability to adjust the care and services accordingly.
One of the main criteria is ensuring that people with a learning disability are offered an annual health check because this cohort of patients often experience poorer health, have more complex health needs, are less aware of illness and require additional support to maintain good health. Portsdown Group Practice has achieved higher than the National average for completion of annual health checks for this cohort of patients. As a Practice we also have a dedicated Learning Disability Lead Nurse who ensures that patients with a learning disability are offered appropriate appointments, annual health checks, health action plans and enough time to process the information provided in the most appropriate form of communication for the individual patient, adapted to meet their specific needs.
Julie Chapman, Clinical Leader Health Facilitation, Integrated Learning Disability Service, Portsmouth said
“I am delighted that Portsdown Group Practice has achieved the Learning Disability Friendly Practice status. Part of this work involved undertaking annual health checks for people with a learning disability. Portsdown Group achieved 82% of these checks in the year 2017-2018. The national target is 75% by 2019-2020. Thank you to all the staff for providing these reasonable adjustments and enhancing the service provided for this patient group”.
Keep Antibiotics Working
People are being urged not to ask their doctor for antibiotics as part of a new campaign aimed at tackling growing resistance to the drugs.
An estimated 5,000 people die every year in England because antibiotics no longer work for some infections, according to Public Health England (PHE), which has launched the Keep Antibiotics Working campaign.
Flu Information
We've updated our flu vaccination page. The new page will give you a one-stop-shop for all information regarding flu vaccinations and how to treat flu if you have caught it. Please click here to visit the page.
Flu Vaccinations - Who is eligible?
To find out if you are eligible for a flu jab, please click here.If you are unsure if you are eligible, please ask in reception. If you are eligible and would like a vaccination, please pop in to the surgery at any time during our normal opening hours.
Flu Vaccinations - Which one should you have?
For adults, there are two different flu vaccinations available this year. The aTIV vaccination is recommended for patients aged 65 and above whereas the Quadrivalent vaccination is advised for patients aged under 65. If you are aged 65 or over, for more information, please click here.
Flu Clinics
We anticipate flu vaccinations to be available during the week commencing 10th September. Eligible patients will be contacted via text message and email in the first instance. If we do not have your mobile number or email address please contact us to update your contact details.
Eligible patients will be able to attend the practice at any time during surgery opening hours for their vaccination. No appointment is necessary. Stay tuned for further updates!
Helping to protect your child against meningococcal disease
The meningococcal ACWY (MenACWY) vaccine is replacing the routine Meningococcal C (MenC) vaccine. MenACWY vaccination helps to protect your child against four types of meningococcal bacteria (groups A, C, W and Y) that can cause meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain) and septicaemia (blood poisoning). These diseases are very serious and can kill, especially if not diagnosed early.
Cases of meningococcal W disease ("MenW") in England have increased significantly in recent years, and it is in response to this rise in cases that this vaccine is being introduced. If children have not already received the School Leavers Booster vaccination this may be offered at the same time.
Measles Cases Reach Record High
Measles cases have reached a record high according to a recent World Health Organisation (WHO) report. More than 41,000 people have been infected in the first six months of 2018, leading to 37 deaths. A recent outbreak in Chichester has also occurred. We strongly advise our patients to check that they are fully vaccinated against measles by contacting the practice. For more information about the recent outbreak please click here.
Electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD) - It could save you time!
If you are on regular repeat prescriptions you may benefit from signing up for Electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD). This service automatically sends your repeat prescriptions to your pharmacy without the need for you to request them each time. For more information please click here to watch a short video. To find out if you are eligible for electronic repeat dispensing (eRD) please contact us.
Asthma - Inhaler techniques
We've updated our patient information page with links to videos and information about inhaler techniques. This is a valuable resource for all asthmatics. Please click here to access it.
Cervical Screening
Cervical screening is really important. It saves lives. We've updated our page about cervical screening. Please click here for more information
GDPR - We've updated our privacy notices and GDPR Policy
The law is changing on 25th May 2018. To reflect this, we have updated our privacy notices and GDPR policy. For more information, please click here
MJog Messenger via Smartphones
MJog Messenger – smarter healthcare communications
Healthcare providers using MJog can send secure healthcare related messages to the MJog Messenger app installed on your smart phone. It is recommended to only install MJog Messenger when directed to do so by your practice.
Why you should install MJog Messenger
- It is free and makes responding to messages extremely quick and easy
- Get your health information direct (including results and reviews)
- Instant notifications let you know when a new message is received
- Saves you time and saves your practice money
- Messages are sent securely and you can PIN protect access to MJog Messenger once installed, there is a simple registration process to complete. Don’t worry we have put together a step-by-step guide showing every simple step!
- Need help? click here
Health Promotions
Monies raised since April 2017 – November 2018 - £3661.96
Monies raised November 2017 – November 2018 - £2615.05
| British Heart Foundation | June 2017 | £92.00 | Wear it Beat it |
| Macmillan Coffee Morning | September 2017 | £838.02 | Coffee morning |
| Poppy Appeal | November 2017 | £37.24 | |
| Save the Children | December 2017 | £266.38 | Christmas Jumper Day |
| Stroke Association | May 2018 | £58.38 | Make May Purple |
| Jo’s Cervical Trust | June 2018 | £849.64 | Pink day |
| Epilepsy Awareness | June 2018 | £425.82 | |
| NSPCC | June 2018 | £150 | |
| Dementia Awareness | July 2018 | £45.00 | |
| Macmillan Coffee | September 2018 | £782.59 | |
Friends of Portsdown Group Practice
Total monies raised - £87,070.19
Total spent on medical equipment - £75,647.75
To find out more about The Friends of Portsdown Group and the medical equipment they have purchased for the practice please click on the link Here
Training for Admin Staff
Portsdown Group Practice is dedicated to developing their staff and recognising when staff members have achieved excellence.
Each year in November, Portsdown Group Practice holds an award ceremony to celebrate their learning achievements.
Portsdown Group Practice uses an online learning platform “Bluestream Academy” for their mandatory and non-mandatory training. This system can record all training completed both internally and externally.
2,579 modules were completed in 2018 between their 120 staff. This ensures that all staff are appropriately qualified with the right skills and competencies for their role.
In 2018 57 awards were presented to staff. 47 staff members received their Bronze award, 8 received their Silver award and 2 staff members received their Gold award. To achieve Bronze staff must have completed 20 modules of learning, to achieve Silver they must have completed 30 modules, and to receive the coveted Gold award, staff must have competed 50 modules of learning. This year our Gold award recipients are Christina Cleworth and Mark Stubbings.
Well done to all staff who received recognition for their learning achievements.